Putin: Olympic Games help to normalize Russian-Georgian relations

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin announced that the Olympic Games help to normalize Russian-Georgian relations.

Russia is very glad about the arrival of the Georgian team to the Olympic Games, he told journalists in Sochi. "Moreover, I consider that this is a very good sign, and the Olympic Games facilitate normalizing relations, even though it seemed impossible and very difficult," Putin said.

He mentioned that flights from Tbilisi to Sochi were resumed on the regular basis. "We have decided that we will continue this practice after the Olympics," the Russian leader promised.

According to his words, this is already a positive side of the Olympic Games.

"The Olympic Games help to regulate relations with Georgia, and I am very happy about it, we wish good luck to the Georgian sportsmen. They always take good places at summer Olympics, especially in martial arts," Putin said. He mentioned that the Georgian team is one of the world leaders in judo - his favorite sport.

"We hope that the Georgian sportsmen will succeed and we wish them good luck," Putin said.

Speaking about the influence of the Olympics on relations between Russia and Georgia, Putin said, "All this will facilitate normalizing relations with our closest neighbor - Georgia, with which we have very ancient and close relations."

According to his words, he would not like the repetition of the previous tragedy. "We understand that this is not an easy process, but Russia intends to resume relations with Georgia," Putin said.

In reply to the Georgian journalists` question why on the map of Georgia shown at the Olympics Abkhazia and Tskhinvali district were covered by fog, Putin said that he did not pay attention to these details.

"This is nonsense. There is no need to make such stories," he said.

The Russian President did not exclude the possibility to meet with his Georgian counterpart. "If he wants, why not?" Putin said.